HIV Counseling and Testing
The Student Wellness Center (SWC) and Multicultural Center (MCC) offers the OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody test (ADVANCE) for FREE. We are able to do this from the support of Undergraduate Student Government (USG), the Ohio Department of Health, and Columbus Public Health.
3 Options to test:
1) By appointment: To schedule a 1-hour appointment to take the test, please phone 292.4527 or stop in B130 (Student Wellness) to schedule an appointment. NO BLOOD, NO NEEDLES, and RESULTS IN 20-40 MINUTES OF TESTING.
2) Walk-in testing is available in SWC (B130 RPAC) on Thursdays from 4-6 p.m. and Fridays from 10-11 a.m.
3) Walk-in testing is available at the Multicultural Center (in the Ohio Union) on Tuesdays from 5-9 p.m.
4) By coming to an Outreach (walk-in testing outside of SWC or MCC). The Winter quarter 2012 dates/times can be found on the "Walk-in HIV and STI testing" page. Appointments cannot be made for the walk-in testing times; it is on a first-come, first-tested basis. The last client will be 30 minutes prior to the end time.
CHOICES: all clients will have the choice of having a confidential OR anonymous HIV test once they meet with the test counselor. All appointments are scheduled anonymously (you'll receive a 4-digit number).
The ADVANCE test
- Is an oral swab – NO NEEDLES or blood
- Is accurate outside the 3-6 month window period
- Is an anonymous or confidential test through the Student Wellness Center, while Student Health Services (SHS) offers confidential HIV Antibody Testing only (SHS testing is charged through insurance or out of pocket).
- Draws antibodies from the gum line.
What is the difference between the ADVANCE test and the OraSure test?
| Type of Test | Cost | Results |
|---|---|---|
| ADVANCE | FREE in Student Wellness and MCC | Students hear their results within 40 minutes of taking the test. Appointments for the ADVANCE test are scheduled for 1 hour at a time. Walk-in times are available on a weekly basis. |
| OraSure | In the SWC and MCC the OraSure test is only offered as a confirmatory test if an "ADVANCE" test is preliminary positive or reactive. | It typically takes about 1 week after taking the test to hear results, which means a 2nd appointment is necessary to hear the final result. |
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about HIV Antibody Testing.
What is the difference between anonymous and confidential testing?
| Type of Test | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Anonymous | No personal information (such as name or social security number) is associated with the test result. The SWC and MCC uses the ADVANCE test which does not involve a needle stick, but rather checks for antibodies in the gum line using an oral swab. | You receive no written documentation, but will hear what your result is from the counselor. In order to get into a treatment program in Ohio, you will need to show documentation that shows you have tested positive for HIV (again, which an anonymous test will not provide). |
| Confidential | May be necessary if you need documentation of your HIV status, such could include those entering the military or Peace Corps.You will need to show documentation of your HIV-positive status, which a confidential test can provide, in order to enter a treatment program. | The test result becomes a part of your medical record. Organizations that may have access to your medical record, such as insurance companies and some governmental agencies, have the potential to learn your HIV status. |
Am I at Risk or Should I get Tested?
The following are known risk factors for HIV infection. If you answer yes to any of these questions, it would be recommended you seek counseling and testing. You may be at increased risk of infection if any of the following apply to you since 1978.
- Have you injected drugs or steroids or shared equipment (such as needles, syringes, cotton, water) with others?
- Have you had unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with men who have sex with men, multiple partners (more than one), or anonymous partners
- Have you exchanged sex for drugs or money?
- Have you been diagnosed with or treated for hepatitis, tuberculosis (TB), or a sexually transmitted infection (STI), like syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, etc.?
- Have you received a blood transfusion or clotting factor between 1978 and 1985?
- Have you had unprotected sex with someone who would/could answer yes to any of the above questions?
If you have had sex with someone whose history of risk-taking behavior is unknown to you or if you or they may have had multiple sex partners, then you have increased the chances that you might be HIV infected.
What is the "Window Period"?
It can take your body up to six months after your last possible exposure to the virus (i.e. last incidence of unprotected sex) to develop enough antibodies to be detected by the HIV antibody test. Because of this "Window Period", re-testing may be necessary for people who have been potentially exposed six months prior to being tested. The test is approximately 99.8% accurate after six months.
How long does the test take?
A HIV Counselor will talk to you for approximately 20 minutes during your appointment to assess your HIV risk and ways to reduce that risk. The actual test itself takes approximately 30 seconds to complete. After taking the ADVANCE test clients would wait approximately 20-40 minutes for their results.
How is the ADVANCE test administered?
The ADVANCE test is an oral swab which the client uses to swab in the gum line (above the teeth and against the outer gum) on top and bottom one time each. A client cannot have any food, liquid, gum, or tobacco products in the mouth for 15 minutes prior to taking the test.
If the test is positive, does that mean I have HIV?
If the ADVANCE test is reactive, it is considered a PRELIMINARY POSITIVE. This suggests that antibodies to HIV may be present, but a client would need to get a confirmatory test done before knowing for sure what their HIV status is. A confirmatory test can be done through an OraSure test, which can be an oral test. It takes approximately 5-7 days to receive confirmatory results.
If the OraSure test (the one you wait a week for your results, also known as a Confirmatory Test) is reactive, it is considered a positive result and HIV antibodies were found. Additional testing is not necessary as each specimen is confirmed prior to the clients receiving their results.
If the test is negative, does that mean I don’t have HIV?
It can take your body up to six months after your last possible exposure to the virus (i.e., last incidence of unprotected sex, sharing of needles, etc.) to develop enough antibodies to be detected by the HIV antibody test. Because of this "Window Period," re-testing may be necessary for people who have been potentially exposed within six months prior to being tested.
Who are the HIV Test Counselor?
HIV test counselors are student volunteers who are extensively trained on all aspects of HIV test counseling. If you would prefer to have a professional staff member as your counselor please request one when scheduling your appointment.
How do I make an appointment?
To schedule an appointment for HIV Antibody Counseling and Testing, call the Student Wellness Center at 292-4527 or stop in to schedule an appointment in B130 RPAC. Walk-ins are welcome at all walk-in testing times; for a list of walk-in testing times please check out our events page
How do I become a volunteer HIV Test Counselor?
Please visit our Volunteer/Employment page to learn more about how you can volunteer to be trained as an HIV Test Counselor. To apply for the MCC Test Counseling volunteer positions, please complete the above application by the deadline on the document.
For More Information
For more information or to learn more about HIV Antibody Counseling and Testing, contact the Student Wellness Center at 292-4527 or email Katye Miller.
For more information about other HIV and STI Testing sites in Columbus, check out the Other STI/STD Testing page or phone the Student Wellness Center at 292.4527.